Heating system for motor cars



J. F. GEISENDORFER.

HEATING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1919. 4

1 ,425, 377, Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

FIG.

onireasraras JOHN F. GEISENDORFER, SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

HEATING SYSTEM FOR MOTOR CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1922.

Application filed May 8, 1919. Serial No. 295,619.

To all 20 710m it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. GEIsENDoR- FER,.a citizen of the United States, residing-at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Heating Systems for Motor Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a heating system and particularly to a steam generator and a radiator adapted for use on gasoline motor cars.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a. simple heating system for motor cars and the like, which may be readily installed in any standard gasoline car now in use, and particularly to provide means for utilizing the exhaust heat for the operation of the system.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple form of steam generator which may be placed inside the exhaust manifold and in conjunction therewith a sight feed mechanism placed directly on the dash board of a car by which the water delivered to the generator may be regulated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for delivering water to the sight feed mechanism, and means for conveying the steam generated to a radiator, said radiator being in turn connected with a supply tank to permit return of condensed water and recirculation of the same through the sight feed and the generator.

Further objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described andclaimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a car, showing the application of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the radiator, showing the connections made therewith.

Fig. 3 is a view of the sight feed partly in section. r

Referring to the drawings in detail, A indicates a standard form of engine such as is employed on motor cars, and 2, the exhaust manifold. Inserted into said manifold is a steam generator '3, which consists of a U-shaped tube constructed of steel, copper or the like. This tube is placed horizontally within the exhaust manifold but with its leg in a vertical position for purposes hereinafter to be described. One end plate divides the upper portion of the casing into two chambers generally indicated at 8 and 9, said chambers being in communication with each other by means of an upper passage 10. The chamber 8 is provided with a water supplying pipe 11 which is connected with a rotary or centrifugal pump 12 by means of a p1pe 13. The opposite chamber 9 is connected with a pipe 14 which is connected with the suction side of the pump, generally indicated at 15. Formed in the lower portion of the casing is a circular chamber, the front portion of which is covered with glass. The .pipe 4 delivering water to the steam generator 3 is connected with the lower portion of this chamber, as shown at 16. Formed in the lower portion of the chamber 8 is a passage 17 and controlling the flow of water through said passage is a needle valve 18. This valve, when slightly opened, permits water.

delivered to chamber 8, to drip downwardly into the sight feed chamber and then to drain through pipe 4 which delivers it to the generator. Th1s generator is positioned directly in the path of the discharging exhaust gases and as the temperature of the same is comparatively high, it can readily be seen that a suflicient heat is produced to generate steam. This steam escapes through pipe 5 and is delivered to the heating radiator C through a slip joint generally indicated at 19. The steam then passes through the radiator and in actual practise it is found that the major portion of the same condenses.

Such condensation is in this instance drained through a pipe 20 which is connected with a --water tank 21 located at any convenient point below the floor line of the machine. This tank is in turn connected by means of a pipe 22 with the suction side of the pump 12 and it can therefore be seen that the water may be circulated over and overagain when the generator is in operation, the amount'of water employed being regulated entirely by means of needle valve 18.

The radiator may be placed in any part of the car or in any position desired but mounted a trap tube 26 for the reception and removal of condensed water that may accumulate in the pipe. The slip-joint 19 passes through a hole in the floor and therefore permits the radiator to be removed when it is not required, by simply lifting it vertically until the slip connection is clear of the floor. Such a fitting is possible in the present instance as practically no steam pressure is required in a'heating system of this character. The pipe returning condensed water formed in the radiator to the tank 21 is fitted somewhat similar to the steam delivering pipe 5, the only difference being that the slip-joint passes interior of the pipe in place of exterior of the same, as

shown at'19.

' In this way it can readily be seen that the a major portion of condensed water formed in the radiator is returned to the tank 21 and it will therefore only be necessary to replen ish the supply therein at great intervals.

In actual practice, I find that the loss of water by steam leakage and condensation is so small that two gallons of Water are suflicient for the operation of most cars during a days run. When operating the car and using the radiator, it is possible to regulate the heat desired by means of a sight feed on the dash board; increasing the number of drops passing through the sight feed chamber causes increase in the volume of steam generated and therefore the heat obtained, while decreasing the number of drops of water passing through the sight feed chamber will conversely reverse the. operation. A simple means is therefore provided for regulating the heating of the car and for instantly closing it off when not required.

The pump 12 employed may be constructed in any manner desired. It may be driven directly from the fly-wheel, cam shaft or any other part desired and it is therefore continuous in operation. It will in all instances deliver more water than can possibly pass through the sight feed chamber and it is therefore permitted to overflow into chamber 9 and then to return through pipe 14 to the suction side. An excess supply is therefore at all times delivered to the sight feed mechanism', thereby insuring a sufiicient quantity of water for the successful operation of the system.

Besides heating, the system may also be used as a gas saver or for cleaning the engine with steam. This is accomplished by merely forming a connection between the steam delivering pipe 5 and the intake manifold and placing a valve in said connection, which may be opened whenever it is desired to admit steam or air to the manifold. This feature is, however, old but it is merely mentioned as it can easily be attached to the present system.

The U-shaped tube or the steam generator indicated at 3 is preferably placed in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1 that is, one arm of the 'coil ispositioined directly above the other. This is of importance as it prevents Water admitted thereto from draining out when the car is on a steep grade. A constant supply of steam can therefore be relied upon at all times, regardless of the position of the car.

While a more or less specific form of sight feed mechanism. and radiator is here shown, I wish it understood that the details of construction of the same may be varied; similarly, that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate.

By referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the bottom coil of the steam generator is slightly corrugated, as shown at 3 This is of importance as it prevents the water from rushing quickly from one end of the tube to the other when admitted. It also permits a better distribution of the water and insures boiling of the same before it'can escape in the form of steam to the upper portion of the coil, Where it is slightly super-heated before it passes to the radiator. The Water should reach the boiling point before it escapes to the upper portion of the tube.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- The combination with the engine of an automobile, of a steam generating pipe placed within the exhaust manifold, a. sight feed, a water supply tank, a pump. for delivering water from the tank to the sight feed, a needle valve in the sight feed to regulate the quantity of water passing through the sight feed, a pipe connecting the sight feed with the steam generating pipe in the exhaust manifold, and delivermg regulated quantities of water thereto, a radiator having separate steam inlet and outlet connections, and a pipe connecting the inlet connection of the radiator with the steam generating pipe in the exhaust manifold.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. GEISENDORFER. 

